"Tears in My Eyes as I Crossed Chenab": Farooq Abdullah on Kashmir's Railway Dream Come True

On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects — the Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing at 359 metres above the Chenab River. This moment marked not only a major milestone in engineering but the symbolic realization of a decades-old dream: connecting Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India through the railway network.

Among those present to experience this landmark event was Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. Aboard the Vande Bharat Express from Srinagar’s Nowgam station to Katra, he expressed deep emotion. “I had tears in my eyes when I crossed the Chenab Bridge. Finally, the day has come when we can travel to the country from Kashmir by train,” he said, calling the bridge and the train the “biggest gift” for the people of J&K.
The Chenab Bridge and the broader railway network are part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) — a national integration project long in the making, delayed by geography, insurgency, and technical obstacles.

• 2002: The project was launched under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who envisioned full connectivity between Kashmir and the rest of India via train. He famously said he wanted to “visit Kashmir by train.”
• 2004–2014: Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, key segments like the Baramulla-Qazigund section were completed. The Chenab Bridge was planned and approved during this period.
• 2014–2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the USBRL a strategic priority. Work on the Chenab and Anji Khad bridges gained momentum, leading to their completion. On June 6, 2025, PM Modi inaugurated the Chenab Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge, marking the near-completion of the Kashmir railway corridor.

The Chenab Bridge is not just historic — it's a marvel of engineering.

• Length: 1,315 metres
• Height: 359 metres above the riverbed (taller than the Eiffel Tower at 300 metres)
• Design: Arch bridge made of over 28,000 metric tonnes of steel
• Resilience: Built to withstand wind speeds up to 260 km/h and seismic activity up to magnitude 8
• Construction Method: Complex cable crane assembly used to span the deep gorges

The bridge is built in an area prone to landslides and seismic activity, requiring some of the most advanced construction techniques in the world.

• Farooq Abdullah, a veteran Kashmiri leader and five-time Chief Minister, described the moment as emotional and historic.
• He praised engineers and workers, while also acknowledging PM Vajpayee’s vision, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s contributions, and PM Modi’s role in completing the project.
• His statement reflects a rare political consensus — a shared national goal finally fulfilled.

“Our dream that one day J&K will be connected to the rest of the country is being fulfilled by this train,” he said.

• Direct train connectivity to Katra, the base of Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, will enhance religious tourism.
• Kashmir’s scenic destinations — Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Amarnath — will see increased footfall.
• Reduced dependence on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, often closed due to snow or landslides.

• Kashmiri products like apples, saffron, handicrafts, and dry fruits can now be transported across India more affordably and efficiently.
• Abdullah remarked that goods will now reach Kanniyakumari, Patna, Kolkata, Mumbai — opening new economic possibilities for Kashmir.

• The railway enables faster troop deployment and logistical support in border-sensitive areas.
• Both Chenab and Anji Khad bridges are designed with strategic resilience, including blast protection and advanced monitoring systems.

• For decades, the absence of railway links contributed to the sense of physical and psychological isolation of Kashmiris.
• The new link sends a strong message of inclusion, unity, and accessibility, both to the region and to the rest of the nation.

The Chenab Bridge is more than a structure. It is a symbol of bipartisan determination, technical excellence, and national resolve.

It began as Vajpayee’s dream, was sustained during Manmohan Singh’s tenure, and was brought to completion under Narendra Modi — a rare arc of continuity in Indian politics. That Farooq Abdullah, often a critic of the central government, was moved to tears on the inaugural ride is perhaps the most powerful image of what this bridge truly represents.
After years of promises, delays, and difficulties, the Chenab Bridge finally connects Kashmir to India — not just geographically, but symbolically.

From stone-paved mountain passes to steel railway arches, India has bridged the unbridgeable. And in doing so, it hasn’t just brought trains to Kashmir. It has brought hope, belonging, and momentum.

The bridge is here. And so is the future.

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